I was born in Amarillo, Texas in 1979. I then moved to Berkely, California, then Quantico, Virginia, then Unsure, California, then Orem, Utah, then Elk Grove, California, then Fort Dix, New Jersey, then Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, then Fort Ord, California, then Vancouver, WA. I went to various schools, but the two longest were Holy Assumption School in Florence, NJ and Fort Vancouver High School in Vancouver, WA. I joined the National Guard in 1996. I graduated from Fort Vancouver in 1997.
While in Croatia, I lived in Zadar, Split, Varaždin, and of course Zagreb. I also visited many other places, including some of the islands off the coast. I taught English classes in every city I lived in. I also studied Croatian while there.
In Iraq, I mainly lived at LSA Anaconda. I also spent some time at a smaller base called Camp Vanguard. I was a meteorologist for the 81st Brigade. However, I spent my first 5 months on a QRF team, one month at Camp Vanguard doing odd jobs, and 6 months as the S-6 for Task Force Chinook.